The champions are now seven points behind leaders Chelsea after another skip at home to Hull.

City face Stoke on Wednesday and Zabaletta said: "Sometimes you can understand there are a lot of teams that are playing better than ourselves.

"At the moment Chelsea are being more consistent than us.

"We have been struggling a bit with injuries to the important players. If you compare this season with last season, we scored 20 more goals last season than this season at this period, and I think we conceded two goals less this season.

"But last season we were more clinical and scoring goals in different ways. This season it seems it has been a bit hard and we have not been clinical enough.

"At the moment I think that is the big difference between last season and this season, not just because this team is relaxed or anything like that."

A comedy of errors gifted David Meyler a first half goal for the visitors which looked like being enough for the win until James Milner rammed home a superb injury-time free-kick.

City haven't won any of the six games they have played without midfield talisman Yaya Toure.

Even though boss Manuel Pellegrini insists he won't pick Toure on Wednesday - or new signing Wilfired Bony - even if they return in time and unscathed from last night's Africa Cup of Nations final.

TOUGH TASK: Pellegrini faces the difficult job of trying to wrestle the title from Chelsea [GETTY]

“This season it seems it has been a bit hard and we have not been clinical enough”

Pablo Zabaleta

But Zabaleta admits his side need Toure asap.

He said: "Yaya is one of the best players in our team, a player who many times has control of the ball in the middle, especially switching it from one side to the other, and scoring goals from outside the box.

"A player with his power and pace running forward always creates something, and he is one of the creative players we miss in those moments.

"Sometimes we need him in the middle, but as Pellegrini said, we have won important games without him, and it's not just about one player, it's about the team.

"Of course you always need your best players in their best form to be a better team, and Yaya is one of them."

For Hull boss Steve Bruce, his gamble on leaving out skipper Curtis Davies and bringing in Irish defender Paul McShane for his first league game since November proved inspired - especially as the 29-year-old thought he had played his last game for the Tigers.

Manager and player had a very public fall-out after he was forced to train with the under-21s.

And Davies said: "To be honest, I didn't think I'd play for the club again. But there is always hope.

"That is what I have had. As football changes so quick I have known that, through all my years of playing. You have got to stay ready.

"You can't hold grudges in football. It is such a short career. You have got to make peace with the past when you move forward.

"That is what I will do. You never know what is going to happen next."